The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1887-10-19

dARLIsLIE,s VIEWS
On e Issues offhe Day--CIaiIni
Of the Democratic Party.


aThe Continuance of Democratic
sRule in the current number of
the Forum, some parts of which.
were printed in this paper the other
day, naturally is ttracting attention
throughout the country. The fol-
lowing is an abstractlof his admira-
BILE statement of Democratic opin-
ions and policies. r
In discussing the reasons why the
Democratie party should be- con-
tinued in power he first refers to
the radical difference between the
two leading parties in their views
concert ths nature and extent of
the federal government. This diff.
ference does not always seem to be
very marked while the party that's
most devoted to the maintenance of
constitutional limitations is in power
and opposed by the party that fa-
yors the most sliberar' or the loosest
Interpretation of the provisions of
the fundamental law by which the
powers of the federal government
have been delegated. The opposi-
ton naturally is inclined to uphold
the constitutional restrictions. But,
as Mr.. Carlisle shows, this difference
appears very great when we com
pare the course of thenow dominant
party during its lease of power with
the course of the political organiza-
ton that held absolute control of
the legislative power from the be-
ginning of the civil war to the ex-
piration of the forty-third congress
in March, 1875. In the ten years of
peace during which the republican
party was supreme in all branches
of the government it passed a grea-
ter number of unconstitutional bills
than can be found in all the preced-
ing and following years of our legis-
lative history. The tendency to-
ward Capitalization and arbitrary
exercise of power manifested itself
also in the executive department
and was reflected even by the decis-
ions of the Judiciary. The indica-
tions are that in case the Republican
party is restored to power new at
tempts will be made to extend fed
eral authority to the prejudice of To-
cal selfgovernment and regardless
of constitutional limitations, and
that sectional strife will be promoted
to the great injury of industrial and
commercial prosperity.
The Republican party, Mr.. Car
Isle points out, has left to the coun-
try legacy of bad laws and vicious
methods of administration which it
will take many years to correct.
To accomplish this, to reconstruct
the navy, restore the merchant ma
rine and reform the civil service by
making it thoroughly honest and
effective and placing official respon-
sibility above partisan obligations,
we need the continued rule of the
party which the people have called
to power in order to remedy the
evils that resulted from the long as
tendency of the Republican party.
Mr.. Carlisle, after referring to the
squandering of the public lands in
the past briefly reviews the legisla-
tive and administrative measures
for the recovery and protection OF
the public domain adopted since the
Democratic party obtained control
first of the House of Representatives
and consequently of the Executive
Department.
he then proceeds to discuss that
most important subject demanding
immediate attention, the reduction
of revenue and taxation. The un
necessary abstraction of the enorm-
GUS annual sum of hundred mill
ions from the earnings of the people
cannot be much longer continued
without producing most serious con
sequences, But this condition OF
things has other effects even greater
and more alarming than the threat
ening financial difficulties. Mr.. Car
Isle describes these effects in the
following words:
"If there were no other reason
the fact that a large surplus in the
Treasury constitutes the most dan
gerous corruption fund that can
possibly menace the integrity OF
Legislation would alone be sufficient
to show the necessity for an imme-
diate reduction of the revenue. Al
ready vast schemes of spoilation are
being devised and advocated, partly
for the avowed purpose of prevent
ing a reduction of taxation, and
partly on the ground that it is the
duty of the government, as the ma
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